AthlonSports.com - Derek Dooleyhttp://athlonsports.com/category/miscellaneous/derek-dooley
enDerek Dooley's Future As the Tennessee Head Coachhttp://athlonsports.com/college-football/derek-dooleys-future-tennessee-head-coach
<div class="field field-name-field-teaser field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;p&gt;
After losing two coaches to UW, Dooley has even more questions to answer at Tennessee.&lt;/p&gt;
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>
<em>-by Braden Gall (follow at <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.twitter.com/bradengall" target="_blank">@BradenGall</a>)</em></p>
<p>
<img alt="" src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/20302-1/DerekDooley.jpg" style="width: 270px; height: 353px; float: right; margin: 3px;" />Tennessee Volunteers fans are going to win in 2012 – no matter where they fall on the Derek Dooley love-hate spectrum.</p>
<p>
So why is Big Orange nation working itself into a ravenous frenzy on Jan. 3?</p>
<p>
Relax, Dooley is going to be the head coach of the Tennessee football team in 2012, so the fans need to get used to it. But make no mistake, he will have to win football games, at least seven (if not eight), to see another New Year’s in Knoxville. Either way, fans screaming for Dooley’s head to roll down Kingston Pike should get what they want in 2012.</p>
<p>
If Tennessee fails to reach a bowl game for the second consecutive year, Dooley will be fired and those blood-thirsty fans should be happy. If Tennessee develops its young talent, wins more than it loses and plays in the postseason, well, isn’t that what all Vols’ fans should want? Isn’t that simply the next step in one of the most embattled and unique coaching tenures in the history of SEC football?</p>
<p>
Dooley has certainly had his chances to make a statement in his young head-coaching career — the defensive gaffe in the closing seconds in Baton Rouge comes to mind. Yet, the task Dooley faced when he stepped into the spotlight in 2010 might have been the most tumultuous coaching situation in the SEC since the advent of divisional play 20 years ago.</p>
<p>
After a lackluster defeat at the hands of rival Kentucky that crushed the Vols' bowl hopes, it doesn’t appear things are getting any easier for the tormented head coach. Dooley had to address the media Tuesday morning for the first time in over a month after defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox and linebackers coach, and top recruiter, Peter Sirmon accepted similar positions under Steve Sarkisian at the University of Washington. Do not get worked up over whether Tennessee is a "better job" than Washington. The Pacific Northwest will always be considered an upgrade to two coaches who are from the area. So Sirmon and Wilcox leaving are not signs of a sinking ship.<br />
<br />
That said, who Dooley tabs as his new defensive coordinator could end up being one of the most important decisions of his career — both in terms of developing and acquiring talent.</p>
<p>
"The program is significantly better than it was 22 months ago, when we all got here," Dooley said Tuesday. While it’s hard to convince many Vols fans to be optimistic, Dooley isn’t too far off. He continued, “We’re on our way. The worst is behind us.”<br />
<br />
He also announced the release of freshman receiver DeAnthony Arnett. Arnett, from Saginaw, Mich., had been asking for the release in order to move closer to his father, who is sick. Arnett caught 24 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns in 2011.</p>
<p>
<em>Here are some facts to consider:</em></p>
<ul>
<li>
Tennessee has lost 14 games over a two-year period of time for the first time in school history.<br />
</li>
<li>
Four of those 14 losses came at the hands of the two teams playing in the BCS national title game.<br />
</li>
<li>
It’s the most pre-Kiffin losses in a two-year span since 1976-77, when Tennessee lost 12 games between the Bill Battle and Johnny Majors coaching change.<br />
</li>
<li>
Johnny Majors lost 23 games in his first four seasons.<br />
</li>
<li>
In 2011, Tennessee ranked 116th in the nation in rushing and 12th in the SEC at 90.1 ypg.<br />
</li>
<li>
Tennessee ranked 106th in the nation in scoring at 20.3 ppg.<br />
</li>
<li>
The Vols scored a total of six third-quarter points in SEC play. They were outscored 84-6 in the third frame of SEC play and were outscored 132-35 in the second half of SEC action. In conference, Tennessee was shutout four times in the second half.<br />
</li>
<li>
Lane Kiffin signed 22 players in the 2009 class. Eleven lettered, nine played in a game and three played in all 12 games this fall. Those 22 signees played an average of 3.1 games this season.<br />
</li>
<li>
According to Athlon Sports 2009 preseason football magazine recruiting rankings, not one of the top seven-rated players in the ‘09 class played a single game in 2011 (In order: Bryce Brown, David Oku, Janzen Jackson, NuKeese Richardson, Darren Myles, Jared Askew and James Green). All seven nationally rated recruits in that class failed to play in a game in 2011.<br />
</li>
<li>
Justin Hunter, Tyler Bray and Janzen Jackson, arguably the best three players on the roster in the spring, combined to play 10 total games this season.<br />
</li>
<li>
The 2012 Vols could potentially return 19 of 22 starters.<br />
</li>
<li>
Tennessee finished No. 2 in the SEC in passing offense — with Matt Simms and Justin Worley attempting a combined 149 passes.<br />
</li>
<li>
According to NCAA.org official stats page, 82 of 114 eligible Vols were underclassmen and only 13 were seniors.<br />
</li>
<li>
Derek Dooley has to produce wins in 2012 or he will not be retained as the Tennessee head coach.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Most Tennessee fans would have to agree, it certainly looks like “the worst” has already taken place.</p>
<p>
The bottom line is “Just win, baby.” The 14 losses mean nothing. The bare Philip Fulmer cupboard means nothing. The horrific third quarter stats mean nothing. What matters is wins and losses in 2012 — and that there are no more excuses for Dooley. Once he fills the voids on his defensive staff, and assuming he can keep a top 20 recruiting class intact, he will have all the pieces in place to win in 2012.</p>
<p>
The schedule appears to have given Dooley a chance to keep his swan song at bay as well. There are no Oregons on the slate in the non-conference — or LSU on the SEC line-up. The toughest non-conference test will be the Kickoff Classic battle with a five-loss NC State team in Atlanta. Otherwise, Georgia State, Akron and Troy should all be wins. Florida, Missouri, Alabama and Kentucky each visit Knoxville while the Vols have to travel to Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. At first look, it’s the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/2012-sec-schedule-analysis" target="_blank">sixth most difficult SEC schedule</a> next season and appears relatively manageable.</p>
<p>
<img alt="" src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/20306-2/DerekDooley1.jpg" style="width: 270px; height: 180px; float: right; margin: 3px;" />The biggest impact Dooley can have on his own legacy as Tennessee’s head coach is his developing leadership. It starts with making intelligent, savvy hires in the face of the most recent defections of Wilcox and Sirmon (like new running back coach and rising star recruiter Jay Graham). Uniting a locker room divide should also be atop the list. Building cohesion in the face of adversity is one of the few tangible impacts a coach can have on a locker room. Finally, in-game adjustments are signatures of a quality field general who has quality platoon leaders.</p>
<p>
Dooley needs to create a distinct identity that Vols’ players and coaches can rally around and be proud to represent. This will build a foundation for success on the field, in the locker room and on the recruiting trail. It’s also where a portion of the responsibility falls to the players, like Tyler Bray. The maturation process has to continue for the players just like it has to for Dooley.</p>
<p>
Tennessee Volunteers fans have every right be disturbed with what has taken place in Knoxville over the last two seasons. However, burning down the twittersphere and talk show phone lines serves no purpose other than elevating your own blood pressure. Because right now, Big Orange Nation is actually in worse shape that the football program itself.</p>
<p>
The talent and schedule are set-up for Dooley to win in 2012. If he wins, be happy and relish the fact that Tennessee is a winning football program once again. If he does not, you won’t have to see those orange pants on the sideline ever again.</p>
<p>
In which case, Dooley would have been very right about one thing at least: the new head coach will be stepping into a program that is in dramatically better shape than it was 22 months ago.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-49 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">CFB Teams:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/tennessee-volunteers">Tennessee Volunteers</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-68 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Miscellaneous:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/derek-dooley">Derek Dooley</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/justin-wilcox">Justin Wilcox</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/peter-sirmon">Peter Sirmon</a></div></div></div>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:03:10 +0000Braden Gall8392 at http://athlonsports.comDerek Dooley: On the Hot Seat at Tennessee?http://athlonsports.com/college-football/derek-dooley-hot-seat-tennessee
<div class="field field-name-field-teaser field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;p&gt;
Derek Dooley may be on the Hot Seat at Tennessee.&lt;/p&gt;
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>
The <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0071&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Tennessee</a> football program will be watching bowl season from home, and Vols fans are already contemplating if head coach Derek Dooley can lead them back to prominence. Tennessee is historically a top ten football program, but that has been nowhere near the case for the last four years. Phil Fulmer had an amazing run from 1992-2004 before letting the program slip severely, missing the postseason in both 2005 and 2008. Enter the scorched-earth policy of Lane Kiffin, who cost the program massive personnel losses between running off players and recruiting others who were not fits in an academic or proper-behavior setting. Consequently, Derek Dooley inherited low scholarship numbers and was asked to clean things up from Kiffin’s recruiting “style”. Dooley seems to be everything that Tennessee wants as a leader, but the results on the field have been horrible. The Vols have dealt with extensive youth and injuries — including losing quarterback Tyler Bray and top receiver Justin Hunter for major parts of this season — over the last two years, but that does not explain his 11-14 Rocky Top record to many fans and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football" target="_blank">college football</a> observers.</p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:18px;">Is Dooley already in trouble in Knoxville?</span></p>
<p>
<strong>Patrick Snow</strong> (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/athlonsnowman" target="_blank">@AthlonSnowman</a>)&nbsp;<img alt="" src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/27605-1/DerekDooley332.jpg" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; float: right; width: 240px; height: 179px; " /><br />
I think <strong>Dooley is in trouble</strong>, although I do not expect Tennessee to make a move this offseason and deal with the attrition of four coaches in five seasons. Dooley is a very likeable leader who does things the right way, but there are no indications that things will improve on The Hill. The Vols were young this season and did suffer key injuries, but those are reasons why you don’t compete with the SEC elite — not excuses for going 5-7 and playing lethargic, uninspired ball against <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0069&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Kentucky</a> with your season on the line. There are some scary stats from Dooley’s second campaign — 117th in the country in rushing, 70th nationally in rushing defense, dead last in SEC games in scoring, rushing yards per carry (2.3) and rushing yards per game (63.5) — but the fact the Vols program seems much closer to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0072&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Vanderbilt</a> and Kentucky than it does to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0073&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Alabama</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0076&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">LSU</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0068&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Georgia</a>, etc. is disconcerting on Rocky Top. This is not the first time in Tennessee’s storied history that it has faced the obstacles of youth and injuries, but it is the first time in a century (1910-11) that the Vols have had two consecutive losing seasons. Dooley is the type of coach you want to back, and he does compete in America’s toughest league. Maybe he can win eight or nine games next season and surprise us all, but there is no current reason to believe that will happen.</p>
<p>
<strong>Mitch Light</strong> (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/athlonmitch" target="_blank">@AthlonMitch</a>)&nbsp;<br />
I believe it’s fair to say that <strong>Derek Dooley will be on the hot seat in 2012</strong>, his third season in Knoxville. He didn’t inherit an ideal situation at Tennessee, but he has done nothing in his two seasons to prove that he is the long term answer for the Vols. In five years as a head coach (three at <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0038&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Louisiana Tech</a> and two at UT), Dooley has a 16–24 record in conference play. In his two seasons at Tennessee, he is 4¬–12 in the SEC, with two wins over Vanderbilt and one win over <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0077&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Ole Miss</a> and Kentucky. That simply isn’t good enough. His 2011 team was hit hard by injuries, losing star wideout Justin Hunter to a torn ACL in Week 3 and quarterback Tyler Bray to a broken thumb for five games. That can explain some of this team’s struggles, but there is no reason that Tennessee should have had so much difficulty running the ball. The Vols ranked 117th in the nation in rushing, averaging a paltry 90.1 yards per game. That is inexcusable.<br />
<br />
It’s always dangerous to throw out a number of wins required for a coach to keep his job, but Dooley will probably need to win at least eight games in 2012. Regardless, though, his team needs to look like it has improved — something that can’t be said for each of the last two seasons.</p>
<p>
<strong>Steven Lassan</strong> (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/athlonsteven" target="_blank">@AthlonSteven</a>)&nbsp;<img alt="" src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/27439-1/TylerBray332.jpg" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; float: right; width: 240px; height: 179px; " /><br />
I think it’s <strong>too early to judge Dooley</strong> at Tennessee. Yes, back-to-back losing seasons are a disappointment and Saturday’s loss to Kentucky isn’t sitting well in Knoxville, but the cupboard wasn’t exactly full when he took the job. Had quarterback Tyler Bray and receiver Justin Hunter stayed healthy for the full year, it’s likely the Volunteers could have gotten to at least 6-6 or pulled off an upset to get to 7-5. One alarming trend developing for Tennessee is the losses in SEC play over the last two years. Out of the seven defeats in conference games this season, four of those were by more than 10 points. The schedule has been brutal the last two years, with <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0070&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">South Carolina</a> improving, along with catching SEC West games against LSU and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0074&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Arkansas</a> in 2011. If the Volunteers go 6-6 or 5-7 next year, then it’s time to put Dooley on the hot seat. However, Tennessee is recruiting well and there’s a lot of young talent that should help this team get back into a bowl game next year.</p>
<p>
<strong>Braden Gall</strong> (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/athlonbraden" target="_blank">@AthlonBraden</a>)&nbsp;<br />
In theory, every single coach in America is on the "hot seat." It is a vague term that represents a portion of every fan base that is unhappy with the current performance of its head coach. At times, that portion of the fan base is more passionate and more justified. No matter the verbiage used, Derek Dooley will be facing <strong>THE make or break season in Knoxville next fall</strong>. He has unquestionably had terrible luck: Losing the team's top three players for the better part of the season, the tumultuous way in which he landed the gig and the lack of talent when he got to campus have all been a part of the 14 losses Tennessee has experienced over the last two seasons. That said, the offensive line was young and talented entering this season and showed very little growth and development — try last in the SEC in rushing and 117th nationally. And there was a clear divide within the locker room between the veterans and the younger players and it cost them a bowl game. The team chemistry issues in particular give pause, as uniting a locker room is one aspect of coaching that can be not only controlled, but maximized by a strong, positive leader. If this team is healthy and develops on offense, Tennessee should be poised for eight wins (and Dooley will have proven he belongs). But if the Vols play like they did against Kentucky ever again, his time on Rocky Top will come to an abrupt end.<br />
</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-48 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">CFB Conferences:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-conferences/sec">SEC</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-49 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">CFB Teams:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/georgia-bulldogs">Georgia Bulldogs</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/kentucky-wildcats">Kentucky Wildcats</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/tennessee-volunteers">Tennessee Volunteers</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/vanderbilt-commodores">Vanderbilt Commodores</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-68 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Miscellaneous:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/derek-dooley">Derek Dooley</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/phil-fulmer">Phil Fulmer</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/lane-kiffin">Lane Kiffin</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-50 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">CFB Players:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-players/justin-hunter">Justin Hunter</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/cfb-players/tyler-bray">Tyler Bray</a></div></div></div>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:22:19 +0000Patrick Snow7999 at http://athlonsports.comTennessee Faces a Must-Win against Favored Vanderbilthttp://athlonsports.com/college-football/tennessee-faces-must-win-against-favored-vanderbilt
<div class="field field-name-field-teaser field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">&lt;p&gt;
Tennessee faces a must-win against favored Vanderbilt.&lt;/p&gt;
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>
<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0071&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Tennessee</a> finds itself in a very unusual situation this weekend — a home underdog to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://stats.athlonsports.com/cfb/teamstats.asp?team=0072&amp;report=teamhome" target="_blank">Vanderbilt</a>. Unfortunately for Derek Dooley, his Vols have been setting some programs lows throughout this season on the way to an 0-6 SEC record. The roster attrition suffered from multiple regime changes (Phil Fulmer to Lane Kiffin to Dooley) has been damaging, with massive personnel losses in the junior and senior classes. Combine that with injuries to quarterback Tyler Bray and top receiver Justin Hunter, and the result is that the 4-6 Vols must beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky just to become bowl eligible. Defeating the Commodores has basically been a yearly event for Tennessee since the days of General Neyland, but this season’s James Franklin-led Vanderbilt team is playing quality football. The Dores rank ahead of the Vols in both scoring offense and scoring defense, and VU will become bowl eligible with a victory. Quarterback Jordan Rodgers has energized the Vandy offense, while running back Zac Stacy is fourth in the SEC in rushing. Tennessee may get Bray back from a broken thumb for this game, and if so, he will face a Commodores defense that is tied for seventh in the country with 15 interceptions.</p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:18px;">Who Wins: Vanderbilt at Tennessee?</span></p>
<p>
<strong>Nathan Rush</strong><img alt="" src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/25766-1/StaceyZ_332.jpg" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; float: right; width: 240px; height: 179px; " /><br />
Vanderbilt has lost to Tennessee 27 times in 28 seasons. In 2005, Jay Cutler led the Commodores to a 28–24 win over the Volunteers. It was Vandy's first win over UT since 1982 and first win at Neyland Stadium since 1975. Despite the Big Orange split stats, Vanderbilt (-1.5) is favored against Tennessee for the second time in 26 seasons. The last time the Dores were favored, in Phil Fulmer's next-to-last game in 2008, they lost 20–10 in Nashville. This week, VU first-year coach James Franklin heads to Knoxville to face UT second-year coach Derek Dooley. The Commodores have been beating the teams they should (Kentucky, 38–8; Ole Miss, 30–7), while staying competitive with the SEC's better squads (at Florida, 26–21; Arkansas, 31–28; Georgia, 33–28) and losing badly to the league's best (at Alabama, 34–0; at South Carolina with Marcus Lattimore, 21–3). The question is, where do Dooley's Vols fall in the SEC's pecking order? Tennessee is 0–6 in conference play and fresh off its worst loss since 1981, a 49–7 beating at Arkansas. This is the Super Bowl for both teams. It should be close, but <strong>Vandy quarterback Jordan Rodgers will celebrate a win</strong> by doing his older brother Aaron's title-belt, discount double-check dance.</p>
<p>
<strong>Steven Lassan</strong> (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/athlonsteven" target="_blank">@AthlonSteven</a>)&nbsp;<br />
Tennessee has dominated the series with Vanderbilt, but I like <strong>the Commodores to win</strong> on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Getting quarterback Tyler Bray back in the lineup will help Tennessee, but how close to 100 percent is he after missing five games? Also, the offense has struggled to find a rushing attack, which adds even more pressure on Bray in his first game back. The Volunteers are still searching for their first SEC victory, while Vanderbilt has two wins in conference play, plus close losses against Georgia (five points), Arkansas (three) and Florida (five). If the Commodores are unable to beat Tennessee, they have another chance to earn win No. 6, as they play at Wake Forest in the regular season finale. While missing out on a bowl game would be a blow to Derek Dooley’s rebuilding efforts at Tennessee, it’s foolish to even consider him on the hot seat. The cupboard wasn’t exactly full when he took over and this is a young team with potential to move up the SEC East standings next season. Give Dooley some time, he’ll get Tennessee back on the right track, but the Commodores will end their bowl hopes on Saturday.</p>
<p>
<strong>Braden Gall</strong> (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/athlonbraden" target="_blank">@AthlonBraden</a>)&nbsp;<img alt="" src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/27439-1/TylerBray332.jpg" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; float: right; width: 240px; height: 179px; " /><br />
We all know the numbers. This is just the second time in 26 seasons that Vanderbilt has been favored (-1.5) over the Vols. That Tennessee has beaten the Dores in 26 of the last 27 meetings. And we know that the winner of this game is going bowling while the loser is most likely sitting at home for the holidays. We also know that Tennessee is last in the SEC rushing and has scored a total of 58 points in six SEC games — all losses. However, 29 of those points came in the only seven quarters of SEC play quarterback Tyler Bray took part in. Bray has missed five games with a broken thumb on his throwing hand, and should he pull a Willis Reed and lead his team into Neyland Stadium on Saturday, I will take<strong> the Vols to pull the upset</strong>. If Bray is unable to play, James Franklin will not hesitate to kick Big Orange Nation while they are down.</p>
<p>
<strong>Patrick Snow</strong> (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/athlonsnowman" target="_blank">@AthlonSnowman</a>)&nbsp;<br />
This is usually a game where you throw out the details and just pick Tennessee. However, this is the first time I can ever remember where Vanderbilt simply looks like the better team. Even in 2008 when the Vols entered the VU game at 3-7 with a lame duck Phil Fulmer, Tennessee was still the better squad with future NFL players like Arian Foster, Montario Hardesty and Eric Berry on the roster. That is not the case with the 2011 Vols, who have an alarming lack of SEC talent in the junior and senior classes. Meanwhile, James Franklin has improved the Vandy offense into a group that can make big plays with Jordan Rodgers and Zac Stacy. And the Commodores do have some of the veteran, NFL-caliber talent that the Vols lack, especially in senior defenders Casey Hayward, Chris Marve and Tim Fugger. The return of quarterback Tyler Bray would lift Tennessee spirits, but it is difficult to see him being very effective after a month+ with a cast on his throwing hand. In Derek Dooley’s most important game as a head coach, I’ll predict <strong>Vanderbilt, 24-20</strong>.<br />
</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-48 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">CFB Conferences:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-conferences/sec">SEC</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-49 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">CFB Teams:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/tennessee-volunteers">Tennessee Volunteers</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/cfb-teams/vanderbilt-commodores">Vanderbilt Commodores</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-68 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Miscellaneous:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/james-franklin">James Franklin</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/jay-cutler">Jay Cutler</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/derek-dooley">Derek Dooley</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/arian-foster">Arian Foster</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/montario-hardesty">Montario Hardesty</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/eric-berry">Eric Berry</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/miscellaneous/phil-fulmer">Phil Fulmer</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-50 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">CFB Players:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-players/jordan-rodgers">Jordan Rodgers</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/cfb-players/justin-hunter">Justin Hunter</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cfb-players/tyler-bray">Tyler Bray</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/cfb-players/zac-stacy">Zac Stacy</a></div></div></div>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:49:29 +0000Patrick Snow7814 at http://athlonsports.com